The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Take a deep breath and savour that fresh sea air as you reach the untamed natural beauty of the Faroes, this group of islands offer steep mountains, idyllic villages and a unique light. Situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, with Iceland on one side and Norway on the other, Tórshavn, meaning ‘Thor’s Harbour’, is the capital of the Faroe Islands and one of the smallest capital cities in the world. Its enchanting, centuries old harbourside village is largely preserved intact. One of the most distinguishing features here is the colourful individualism of its houses, with their mix of painted and grass roofs. The most famous of these is Nordic House, with contours that bland into the landscape, it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Scandinavia. Warm, friendly people and an interesting culture make it a delight to explore. Its active music scene and traditional cuisine are some of the quirks you might sample.

The name means ‘Smoky (or Steamy) Bay’ but these days the Icelandic capital Reykjavik is even hotter than that. Its reputation now as a truly cultural, cosmopolitan city, with great restaurants and lively nightlife, has made it a hugely popular destination. Another big attraction is the opportunity to swim in open-air pools heated by the very geothermal springs that inspired Reykjavik’s name. Not that Reykjavik – or most of Iceland for that matter – is actually icy at all. It may be the most northerly capital in the world and in the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’, but if you want ice, you have to travel away from the capital on one of the exciting glacier safari tours. But the most popular destination remains the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, where minerals bubble up from 5,000ft below the earth’s surface.

The name means ‘Smoky (or Steamy) Bay’ but these days the Icelandic capital Reykjavik is even hotter than that. Its reputation now as a truly cultural, cosmopolitan city, with great restaurants and lively nightlife, has made it a hugely popular destination. Another big attraction is the opportunity to swim in open-air pools heated by the very geothermal springs that inspired Reykjavik’s name. Not that Reykjavik – or most of Iceland for that matter – is actually icy at all. It may be the most northerly capital in the world and in the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’, but if you want ice, you have to travel away from the capital on one of the exciting glacier safari tours. But the most popular destination remains the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, where minerals bubble up from 5,000ft below the earth’s surface.

Visionary 19th century novelist Jules Verne was so inspired by the spectacularly volcanic terrain of the Snaefellsnes (Snow Mountain) peninsula, on which the Icelandic cruise port Grundafjordur is located, that he set his epic tale ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ at its heart – Snaefellsjokull.

The Icelandic fishing port of Isafjordur is the perfect starting point for those who want to experience the magnificent natural beauty of the West Fjords, and its two valleys of Tungudalur and Engidalur lend themselves well to outdoor pursuits. Surrounded by steep sloping mountains you can indulge in a spot of skiing, golfing, or hiking – just some of the activities on offer. The town is also rich in art, culture and historical significance. Main points of interest include the Slunkariki Art Gallery and the West Fjords Folk Museum which houses a remarkable collection of traditional tools and relics. Nearby Neostikaupstaour consists of the oldest buildings in Iceland, including four from the 18th century, which belonged to Danish merchants. The town centre is interesting to walk around as it has a selection of old streets, small shops and a unique array of houses. Known for its quirky peculiarities don’t be surprised to see the barber playing his accordion, the baker training for the marathon or see the goldsmith paddling around in his kayak!

A genuine ‘Midnight Sun’ destination, Akureyri cruise port is a charming Icelandic town with a stunning location on the country’s longest fjord – Eyjafjordur. There are several interesting museums and churches but the most amazing feature of Akureyri is its botanical garden – not surprisingly, the most northerly in the world. That this glorious display of flowers and plants thrives is a tribute to the local microclimate which is remarkably mild for somewhere so close to the Arctic Circle. Less surprising is the range of tours to appeal to nature-lovers from whale watching (18 species from minkes to killers have been spotted) to the spectacular ‘Waterfall of the Gods’ at Godafoss. Along the way, you will also see age-old glaciers, beautiful lakes, bubbling sulphur mud-pits, hidden caves and coves, dormant volcanoes and lava which has turned into bizarre-shaped sculptures.

They call Honningsvaag the North Cape cruise port these days, as this busy fishing port town on Mageroya Island is the capital of Nordkapp, Norways most northerly municipality. Bounded by the Barents Sea, Nordkapp comprises Mageroya and the facing stretch of mainland, but the place everyone wants to visit is the North Cape Plateau about 20 miles from Honningsvaag.

Leknes is a town in Nordland county, Norway. The town is also the administrative centre of the municipality of Vestvågøy. Leknes was designated a “town” in 2002. The 2.52-square-kilometre town has a population of 3,556 which gives the town a population density of 1,411 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Narvik is the third-largest municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Narvik.

Kristiansand in Norway has two boasts. First, it’s at the head of one of the loveliest of fjords. Second, and more prosaically, it’s a leading centre for dried-cod production

Because it was completely rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1904, Alesund looks quite different to other Norwegian towns along the country’s west coast now better known as simply ‘Fjordland’. Stretching across three islands at the mouth of the magnificent Geirangerfjord, Alesunds architecture is now an eclectic mixture of mock-Gothic and neo-classical with more than a dash of Art Nouveau. Turrets and spires dot the skyline and you can trace the towns trend setting style development at the Art Nouveau Centre, one of several fascinating museums in the town. The pick is the open-air Sunnmre while the Atlantic Sea-Park is also worth a visit as one of the largest aquariums in northern Europe.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.